Prunes beat psyllium for constipation relief: RCT data

“Given their palatability, tolerability and availability, dried plums should be considered in the initial approach to the management of mild to moderate constipation in the general population,” write the authors, led by Satish Rao, MD, PhD., from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

The stats

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK), over four million Americans suffer from constipation every year. As a result, approximately $725 million is spent on laxatives in the US.

Constipation, considered a symptom and not a disease, is defined as fewer than three bowel movements per week.

Dietary approaches to alleviate constipation are well known, with prunes ranking high on the list of foods to help maintain regularity. However, while traditional use is well known, the University of Iowa researchers state that efficacy of this approach is not currently known.

Indeed, the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) rejected an article 13.1 health claim in October 2010 of the long-standing association between prunes and bowel function due to insufficient evidence. The new study appears to fill some of the scientific gaps.

Study details

Dr Rao and his co-workers recruited 40 people with constipation to participate in their randomized control crossover trial. The average age of the participants was 38. Volunteers were randomly assigned to consume 50 grams per day of prunes, or 11 grams per day of psyllium (Metamucil, Proctor and Gamble Pharmaceuticals) for three weeks. One week of ‘washout’ separated the interventions.